Apparatus in load carriers

ABSTRACT

A load carrier intended for vehicular use is provided with a strut fixed over the vehicle roof, on which at least one holder, such as a ski holder, is secured. The ski holder has a retainer stirrup which, in a closed position, encloses the strut and secures the ski holder thereon and which, in an open position, permits removal of the ski holder. The ski holder is further provided with a locking unit which, in the locked position, prevents removal of the skis. In order to permit simple mounting and dismounting of the ski holder on the strut, the retainer stirrup, itself, or with a first catch member secured thereon, extends, in the closed position of the retainer stirrup, into locking engagement with the locking unit or a second catch member secured thereon. In one embodiment, the locking unit is provided with a pivotal shank with the first catch member which cooperates with an interior locking heel on the second catch member which is pivotally secured in the locking unit and which is designed as a locking cap.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an apparatus in load carriers of thetype which has a load carrier strut extending transversely across avehicle roof, and on which at least one holder device designed forcooperation with the load is fixable, the holder device having anopenable retainer element which, in a closed position encloses thecarrier strut and secures the holder device thereon, and which, in anopen position, permits removal of the holder device from the carrierstrut, the apparatus including a movable locking portion which, in itslocked position, prevents removal from the vehicle of a load carried onthe load carrier.

BACKGROUND ART

Various models of load carriers of the type mentioned by way ofintroduction are previously known in this Art. These may, for example,be designed so as to transport, on a vehicle roof, skis, bicycles,windsurfing boards, optional elongate loads or other objects.

A load carrier which has holder devices specifically designed for thetransport of skis will be discussed hereinbelow by way ofnon-restrictive typical example. Such a load carrier includes theabove-mentioned carrier strut extending transversely across the vehicleroof and secured in the side edge areas of the vehicle roof by means offeet which, as a rule, are lockable on the vehicle. These feet are oftenprovided with a movably disposed locking cap which is instrumental in orcaters for the locking process of the foot on the vehicle. The holderdevice proper designed for fixedly retaining the skis has previouslybeen provided with retainer elements which surround the load carrierstrut and are permanently anchored in the holder device. This impliesthat, for mounting the ski holder, i.e. the holder device, on thecarrier strut, it is necessary to remove at least one of the lockablefeet before the ski holder with its retainer elements can be slid overthe strut. This is perceived by users as being impractical andcircumstantial.

Furthermore, a ski holder of the above-considered type is previouslyknown in this Art, the holder having retainer elements designed asopenable stirrups which, in the closed state, surround the carrier strutand which, in the open state, permit securement on or removal from thecarrier strut of the ski holder without requiring the dismounting of anyof the feet of the carrier strut. These retainer elements thus include apivotal portion which is fixedly lockable in the ski holder proper withthe aid of handwheels provided with locks.

This design of the holder device is also impractical in that at leastone extra cylinder lock must be provided in addition to the lock whichis employed for fixedly locking the skis in the ski holder and the lockwhich is employed for fixedly locking the foot on the vehicle. In such acase, there is an obvious risk of confusion or misplacement of all ofthe requisite keys.

PROBLEM STRUCTURE

The present invention has for its object to realise an apparatus of thetype mentioned by way of introduction, the apparatus being designed insuch a manner that the problems considered above are obviated. Thepresent invention further has for its object to realise an apparatuswhich is more universally applicable than has been disclosed above forthe ski holder under discussion. Furthermore, the present invention hasfor its object to realise an apparatus which is simple and economical inmanufacture and which provides a safe and reliable locking effect.

SOLUTION

The objects forming the basis of the present invention are attained ifthe apparatus intimated by way of introduction is characterised in thatthe retainer element itself or a first catch member disposed thereonextends, in the closed position of the retainer element, into engagementwith the locking portion or a second catch member connected therewith,which, in the first position of the locking portion, secures theretainer element in its locked position.

As a result of this design, it is possible for the second catch memberdisposed on the retainer element--and possibly the retainer elementitself--to be designed either for cooperation with a movable lockingportion on the holder device proper, or with one such locking device onthat foot by means of which the carrier strut is secured on the vehicle.In both cases, no separate lock is required for easy securement of theholder device on the carrier strut.

One advantageous embodiment of the present invention is characterised inthat the retainer element has a fixed portion which is secured in theholder device, and a portion which is pivotal in relation to the fixedportion by means of a hinge arrangement, the pivotal portion beingprovided with engagement members which, by pivoting of this portion, aremovable into engagement with the holder device, and that the pivotalportion is provided with a projection which extends to the region of thelocking portion designed as a movable locking cap on the holder devicein order to be held by the locking portion in a locking position inwhich the engagement members engage with the holder device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The nature of the present invention and its aspects will be more readilyunderstood from the following brief description of the accompanyingDrawings, and discussion relating thereto. In the accompanying Drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a holder device (ski holder) designedaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation (seen from the right in FIG. 1) of the skiholder according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a partial view corresponding to FIG. 1 of an alternativeembodiment of the ski holder;

FIG. 4 is an end elevation corresponding to FIG. 2 of a furtheralternative embodiment of a ski holder; and

FIG. 5 shows a partial view corresponding to FIG. 1 of yet a furthermodified embodiment of the ski holder.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Even though the present invention will be described hereinbelow inconnection with a ski holder which is fixedly securable on a so-calledroof rack which includes a carrier strut extending across a vehicleroof, it is self-evident that the same anchorage principle and lockingprinciple may also be applied to other types of holder devices, such asholder devices intended for windsurfing boards, bicycles, elongateobjects in general, load baskets and the like.

The complete apparatus according to the present invention includes acarrier strut which extends transversely across a vehicle roof and whichis anchored in the side edge portions thereof by means of generallylockable feet. These feet may, for their locking purpose, include amovable locking device, a fixedly lockable security cap or the like. Theholder device proper, hereinafter represented by a ski holder, is thensecured in a suitable manner on the carrier strut and, for fixedlylocking the skis in the ski holder, the ski holder is openable by meansof a movable locking portion disposed at its one end, in this case apivotal locking cap.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 refers to the carrier strut (shown bybroken lines) extending transversely across the vehicle roof.Furthermore, reference numerals 2 and 3 refer to the bottom rail andupper rail, respectively, of the ski holder, the upper rail 3 being, bymeans of a joint 6, pivotal according to the arrow A in relation to thebottom rail 2. In the upper rail 3, more precisely in its outer endwhich, when the ski holder is in use, is located out towards the sideedge of the vehicle, there is disposed a joint 7 by means of which alocking cap 8 is pivotally secured according to the arrow B in relationto the upper rail 3. The upper rail 3 has an upper rubber bead 4, whilethe bottom rail 2 has a lower rubber bead 5, these rubber beads beingemployed to fixedly clamp therebetween the skis which are held by theski holder.

On placing of the skis in the ski holder, the locking cap 8 is pressedin a downward direction, a catch (not shown) being released from alocking edge 9 (see FIG. 2), whereafter the locking cap 8 may be pivotedin a counter-clockwise direction according to the arrow B, andthereafter the upper rail 3 is pivoted in a counter-clockwise directionaccording to the arrow A. In this position, the skis may be both placedin the ski holder and removed therefrom. On closing of the ski holder,the upper rail 3 is first pivoted in a clockwise direction, whereafterthe locking cap 8 is pivoted in the same direction, at the same time asthe locking cap or the upper rail is pressed in a downward direction sothat the catch may enter into engagement with the locking edge 9. Inthis position, the locking cap 8 may be fixedly locked in relation tothe bottom rail 2 by means of a cylinder lock 10.

If there is to be any point in locking the skis in the ski holder, theski holder itself must, of course, be securely mounted in the carrierstrut 1 such that it cannot inadvertantly be removed therefrom.According to the present invention, the ski holder is provided on itsbottom rail 2 with two retainer elements 11 and 12 which are switchablefrom a closed position where they enclose the carrier strut 1 andthereby fixedly retain the ski holder thereon. To improve this anchorageof the ski holder on the carrier strut, use may be made, in addition tothe retainer elements 11 and 12, of clamping screws disposed in thelower defining walls of the retainer elements, or situated elsewhere,which are tightened towards the carrier strut 1 so that all clearanceand rattling will thereby be eliminated. Such locking screws areillustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The retainer elements 11 and 12 are also switchable to an open positionin which they per se allow insertion of the carrier strut 1 so that, inthe open position of the retainer elements, the ski holder may, in itsentirety, be removed from the carrier strut 1 or mounted in placethereon.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2, the retainer elementsconsist of a fixed, angular stirrup with a side portion 13 and a bottomportion 14. This stirrup is secured in the bottom rail 2, for example byriveting or welding. In addition, each retainer element is provided witha further side portion 15 which, by the intermediary of a jointarrangement 16, is pivotally secured in the bottom portion 14. In FIG.2, the retainer element 12 is shown in the open state and by solidlines, and in the closed state by broken lines. It will be apparent fromthis Drawing Figure that the side portion 15 has an extension with atleast one, but preferably two projections 17 which, in the closed stateof the retainer element, are insertable through apertures 18 in the sidewall of the bottom rail 2. The projections 17 are designed so as toenter into engagement with an edge in the aperture 18 in order, by thisengagement, to be fixedly secured in relation to the bottom portion 14and the bottom rail 2. However, this engagement is no harder thanpivoting of the side portion 15 can be effected by hand without theemployment of any tools or aids when the screw 26 (not shown on theseFigures) is not tightened.

It will further be apparent from FIG. 1 that the side portion 15 in itsupper edge in FIG. 1 is provided with a fowardly directed arm 19 whichserves the function of a catch member for locking the retainer element12 in its locked position. The arm 19 extends laterally towards the endof the bottom rail 2 and extends in under the locking cap 8 in thelocked position thereof (according to FIG. 1). As is apparent from FIG.2, the locking cap 8 is interiorly provided with at least one engagementportion 20 directed at right angles to the plane of the Drawing in FIG.1, the engagement portion being, in FIG. 2, parallel with the plane ofthe Drawing. This engagement portion 20 is, in the locked position ofthe locking cap 8, located in the region outside the catch member or arm19 so that a pivoting of the side portion 15 and the catch member 19disposed thereon in a counter-clockwise direction in FIG. 2 is preventedin that the catch member 19 comes into contact with the engagementportion 20 on the locking cap 8.

When the locking cap 8 is in the open position (FIG. 2 shows, by solidlines, a partly opened position), the catch member 19 is free from theengagement portion and consequently the side portion 15 may be pivotedaccording to the arrow C from the locked position illustrated by brokenlines to the open position illustrated by solid lines. In this position,the carrier strut 1 accommodated interiorly in the retainer element 12may, of course, be freely removed therefrom and, naturally, re-insertedif required.

In order to eliminate the risk that the ski holder be removed in itsentirety from the carrier strut 1, it is sufficient to render one of theretainer elements 12 lockable. Consequently, the second retainer element11 need not be provided with any counterpart to the catch member 19. Itshould, however, be pointed out that the side of the bottom rail 2 inFIG. 1 facing away from the observer is provided with aperturescorresponding to the apertures 18 and that the counterpart to the sideportion 15 in the retainer element 11 is also provided with projectionscorresponding to the projections 17 in FIG. 2. Since these projectionsare directed obliquely downwardly in the closed position of the retainerelement 11, they will not be disengaged from the bottom rail as long asthe locking screw preferably employed on the retainer element 11 in FIG.1 is tightened.

DESCRIPTION OF ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS

In certain cases, the foot which is employed for fixedly securing thecarrier strut 1 may be provided with a movable locking portion such as amovable or pivotal security cap which has an open position in which thefoot may be removed from the vehicle roof and a closed position in whichthe foot cannot be removed. In certain cases, it may be more expedientto cause the retainer element 12 to engage, with its catch member 19 ora counterpart hereto, with the locking cap of the foot instead of with alocking cap 8 possibly disposed on the ski holder. Hence, the presentinvention is not restricted to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and2, in which the ski holder is provided with a locking cap of the typeillustrated on the Drawings. Naturally, the design and construction ofthe ski holder may also realise locking of its upper rail in acompletely different manner. In particular in such cases when the holderdevice does not consist of a ski holder but may be intended for fixedlyretaining other types of loads, the above-disclosed locking principlewith engagement with the movable locking portion of the foot may beespecially advantageous.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention which issomewhat modified in relation to that of FIG. 1. In this embodiment, thefundamental construction of the ski holder is identical to thatdescribed above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The differencevis-a-vis the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2 primarily resides inthe fact that the side portion 15 is not pivotally connected to thebottom portion 14 of the retainer element 12. Instead, the bottomportion 14 is provided with an engagement sleeve 21 or other suitablydesigned engagement member which permits a connection between the bottomportion 14 and the side portion 15 by a displacement of the side portion15 in the direction of the arrow D. Correspondingly, the side portion 15is provided in its lower end with an engagement pin 22 or similarlydesigned engagement device for interconnecting with the bottom portion14 as a result of the above-mentioned displacement movement.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 3, the side portion 15 may bepermanently connected to the bottom rail 2 in that it is provided withcounter-directed projections 23 extending into the interior of thebottom rail 2, the projections passing into the bottom rail through aslot-shaped opening 24. Hereby, the side portion 15 may, without risk offalling away from the bottom rail 2, be displaced according to the arrowD in the longitudinal direction of the slot 24. In its position shiftedfurthest left in FIG. 3, the ski holder may be placed over a loadcarrier strut and, by a turning movement, be located such that thebottom rail 2 becomes positioned directly above the carrier strut. Inthis position, the side portion 15 is shifted to the position shown onthe Drawing so that the engagement members 21 and 22 engage with oneanother and interconnect the side portion 15 with the bottom portion 14.Analogous with the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2, the sideportion 15 is provided with a catch member 19 which extends into theregion in beneath or behind the locking cap 8 and which may engage, witha deflected region, with the engagement portion 20 of the locking cap 8so that release of the side portion 15 is hereby prevented.

FIG. 3 intimates by broken lines the deflected projection at the end ofthe catch member 19. In order that this does not prevent pivoting of thelocking cap 8 in the direction of the arrow B when the ski holder is tobe opened, the engagement portion 20 on the locking cap 8 should beprovided with a recess which is located slightly above the deflectedprojection of the catch member 19 so that the previously mentionedpivoting of the locking cap 8 is possible when the locking cap islocated in its depressed position.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 4, use is made of retainer elements12 of a somewhat different type in that these are designed as flexiblespring clamps 25. These spring clamps 25 are provided with theabove-indicated locking screw 26 in their lower defining wall and arefurther provided with upwardly directed shanks 27 on either side of theside walls of the bottom rail 2. At the upper ends of the shanks 27,these are provided with inwardly directed projections 17 which extendthrough openings in the side walls of the bottom rail 2.

The material properties of the spring clamp 25 are such that this may beurged over the carrier strut 1 from beneath, whereafter its upwardlydirected shanks 27 are placed one on either side of the bottom rail 2 sothat the projections or catches 17 snap into their openings in thebottom rail 2, whereafter the screw 26 is tightened. In this position,the spring clamp will enclose the carrier strut and secure the skiholder thereon, in that the catches 17 are fixedly retained in theopenings in the bottom rail 2.

To prevent unintentional removal of the shanks 27 and the catches 17from the ski holder, the security cap 8 is, in analogy with the otherembodiments according to the present invention, provided with engagementportions 20 which, in the locked position of the security cap 8, preventdisengagement of the catches 17 from their openings in the bottom rail 2by engagement with the shanks 27.

In a modification of the embodiment according to FIG. 4, the retainerelement 12 is designed with a considerably more rigid construction andhas, in one of its corners, a joint arrangement corresponding to thejoint arrangements 16 in the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2.

In such cases when the retainer element 12 cannot be positioned so farout as partly to be covered by the locking cap 8, the constructionalvariation illustrated in FIG. 5 may be employed.

This embodiment differs from the embodiment according to FIG. 4primarily in that the spring clamp 25 or the articulated clamp is placedfurther in than is the case in FIG. 4. It will be clearly apparent fromFIG. 5 how the upper ends of the shanks 27 .extend with their catches inthrough openings 28 in the side walls of the bottom fall 2. To preventrelease of the shanks 27 and their catches from the bottom rail 2, useis made of a pivotal locking arm 29 which, by means of a joint 30, isfixedly secured in the bottom rail 2. In its lowered position (shown inFIG. 5), the pivotal locking arm 29 covers both a portion of the shanks27 and the openings 28 and thereby prevents the retainer elements 12from being removed from the bottom rail 2.

The pivotal locking arm 29 is of such length as to extend into theregion behind or inside the locking cap 8 and is also of suchconfiguration at its end located there that, by engagement with theengagement portion 20 of the locking cap, it is prevented from beingpivoted in the opening direction, i.e. in a counter-clockwise directionin FIG. 5. Pivoting in the opposite direction is prevented by engagementwith the upper defining walls 31 (see FIG. 4) of the retainer element12.

In a modification of the embodiment according to FIG. 5, use may be madeof considerably longer pivotal locking arms 29, such that one and samelocking arm may preferably be used for locking both of the retainerelements 11 and 12. If, in this case, the long locking arm 29 is of suchvertical extent that it might, already when pivoting is commenced, comeinto engagement with skis fixedly clamped in the ski holder, the desiredlocking function will be achieved. As a possible variant of thisconstruction, it is conceivable that the pivotal locking arm is ofU-shaped cross-section and that, in its closed position, it embracesboth the upwardly directed shanks 27 on the retainer elements 11 and 12and the greater portion of the bottom rail 2. In this design, thelocking arm is suitably secured in the joint 6 and, furthermore, thelower rubber bead 4 will not be secured to the bottom rail 2, butinstead on the counterpart to the extended locking arm 29. This U-shapedand extended locking arm may possibly be provided, in the proximity ofthe joint 6, with a downwardly directed cam surface which, on clockwisepivoting of the locking arm to the locking position engages, through anopening in the lower wall of the bottom rail 2, with the carrier strut 1and thereby achieves securing of the ski holder such that the screws 26will be superfluous.

Such an extended U-shaped locking frame may be held in its lockingposition either by the skis secured in the ski holder or by the movablelocking portion of the ski holder or the foot.

I claim:
 1. An apparatus for use with load carriers of the type having acarrier strut extending transversely across a vehicle roof, comprising:aholder device including a holder portion for retaining a load in theholder device; means for locking the holder device, the locking meanslocking a load retained in the holder device in the holder device whenthe locking means is in a locked position; a retainer element attachedto the holder device, the retainer element including a fixed portionfixed to the holder device and a first portion that is movable relativeto the fixed portion between an open and a closed position, the retainerelement, when the first portion is in the closed position, surrounding acarrier strut to secure the holder device on the carrier strut, theretainer element, when the first portion is in the open position,permitting removal of the holder device from the carrier strut, thefirst portion being secured in the closed position by the locking meansby being at least partially covered by a portion of the locking meanswhen the locking means is in the locked position.
 2. An apparatus foruse with load carriers of the type having a carrier strut extendingtransversely across a vehicle roof, comprising:a holder device includinga holder portion for retaining a load in the holder device; means forlocking the holder device such that a load retained in the holder deviceis locked in the holder device when the locking means are in a lockedposition; a retainer element attached to the holder device, the retainerelement being movable between an open and a closed position and which,in the closed position, is adapted to surround a carrier strut to securethe holder device on the carrier strut and which, in the open position,permits removal of the holder device from the carrier strut, at least aportion of the retainer element being disposed relative to the lockingmeans, when the retainer element is in the closed position, such that,when the locking means is in the locked position, the locking meanssecures the retainer element in the closed position, wherein theretainer element has a fixed portion fixed to the holder device, and apivotal portion which is pivotal relative to the fixed portion, thepivotal portion being provided with at least one engagement memberswhich are movable into engagement with the holder device, the pivotalportion having a portion forming a catch member, the catch member beinglocked in position by the locking means when the engagement membersengage with the holder device and the locking means is in the lockingposition to secure the retainer element in the closed position.
 3. Aload carrier, comprising:a carrier bar extending transversely across avehicle roof; at least one holder device including a first member and asecond member pivotally connected to one another at a first end of eachof the first and second members, the holder device further including alocking member movable to a locking position to lock a second end of thefirst member to a second end of the second member, the first and secondmembers being adapted to retain a load between them when the second endsof the first and second members are locked together; and at least oneretainer element including a fixed portion fixed to the holder deviceand a first portion that is movable relative to the fixed portionbetween a closed position in which the retainer element mounts theholder device on the carrier bar and an open position in which theretainer element allows removal of the holder device from the carrierbar, the first portion engaging with and being at least partiallycovered by the locking member to secure the retainer element on thecarrier bar when the first portion is in the closed position and thelocking member is in the locking position.
 4. A load carrier accordingto claim 3, wherein the retainer element includes a catch member that isengaged by the locking member.
 5. A load carrier, comprising:a carrierbar extending transversely across a vehicle roof; at least one holderdevice having a first and a second position, the holder device beingadapted to hold a load in the first position and including a lockingmember having a locked position in which the holder device is locked inthe first position, the locking member further having an unlockedposition in which the holder device is adapted to be in the secondposition such that the load may be placed in or removed from the holderdevice; and at least one retainer element for mounting the holder deviceon the carrier bar, the retainer element including a fixed portion fixedto the holder device and a first portion that is movable relative to thefixed portion of the retainer element between an open position, in whichthe holder device is adapted to be mounted on or removed from thecarrier bar, and a closed position, in which the retainer element mountsthe holder device on the carrier bar, the first portion of the retainerelement engaging with the locking member when the first portion of theretainer element is in the closed position and the locking member is inthe locked position to secure the retainer element in the closedposition such that the first portion of the retainer element isprevented from being moved to the open position.
 6. A load carrieraccording to claim 5, wherein the retainer element includes a catchmember that is engaged by the locking member.
 7. A load carrier,comprising;a carrier bar extending transversely across a vehicle roof;at least One holder device having a first and a second position, theholder device being adapted to hold a load in the first position andincluding a locking member having a locked position in which the holderdevice is locked in the first position, the locking member. Further,having an unlocked position in which the holder device is adapted to bein the second position such that the load may be placed in or removedfrom the holder device; and at least one retainer element for mountingthe holder device on the carrier bar, the retainer element being movablebetween an open position, in which the holder device is adapted to bemounted on or removed from the carrier bar, and a closed position, inwhich the retainer element mounts the holder device on the carrier bar,at least a portion of the retainer element engaging with the lockingmember when the retainer element is in the closed position and thelocking member is in the locked position such that the retainer elementis prevented from being moved to the open position, wherein the retainerelement comprises a fixed portion fixed to the holder device and onepivotal portion hingedly connected to the fixed portion and pivotablebetween the closed position, in which a free end of the pivotal portionengages with the holder device, and the open position.
 8. A load carrieraccording to claim 7, wherein the pivotal portion has, at the free endthereof, at least one engagement members for engaging correspondingmembers of the holder device.
 9. A load carrier according to claim 7,wherein the pivotal portion has a catch member engagable with thelocking member.
 10. A load carrier, comprising:a carrier bar extendingtransversely across a vehicle roof; at least one holder device having afirst and a second position, the holder device being adapted to hold aload in the first position and including a locking member having alocked position in which the holder device is locked in the firstposition, the locking member further having an unlocked position inwhich the holder device is adapted to be in the second position suchthat the load may be placed in or removed from the holder device; and atleast one retainer element for mounting the holder device on the carrierbar, the retainer element being in the form of a U-shaped member havingtwo shanks and a bottom adapted to receive the carrier bar, the shanksincluding, at free ends thereof engagement members adapted to engage anddisengage with corresponding members in the holder device, the retainerelement mounting the holder device on the carrier bar when theengagement members and the corresponding members are engaged, thelocking member engaging a portion of the retainer element when theengagement members engage with the corresponding members and the lockingmember is in the locked position to secure the retainer element on thecarrier bar such that the engagement members and the correspondingmembers are prevented from disengaging.
 11. A load carrier comprising:acarrier bar extending transversely across a vehicle roof; at least oneholder device having a first and a second position, the holder devicebeing adapted to hold a load in the first position and including alocking member having a locked position in which the holder device islocked in the first position, the locking member further having anunlocked position in which the holder device is adapted to be in thesecond position such that the load may be placed in or removed from theholder device; and at least one retainer dement for mounting the holderdevice on the carrier bar, the retainer dement having one fixed portionfixed to the holder device and one movable portion slidingly connectedto the holder device, the movable portion being movable between an openposition in which the retainer element is adapted to permit the holderdevice to be mounted on or removed from the carrier bar and a closedposition in which the movable portion engages the fixed portion suchthat the holder device is prevented from being removed from the carrierbar, the locking member engaging a portion of the retainer element whenthe movable portion is in the closed position and the locking member isin the locked position such that the movable portion is prevented frommoving to the open position.